CCRI is the largest specialist rural research centre in the UK, having expertise in all aspects of research in policy and planning for the countryside and the environment of the UK, Europe and further afield.

Utilising the expertise and relevant research of CCRI staff and associates, as well as those of colleagues in the University of Gloucestershire’s School of Natural and Social Sciences, the CCRI was able to respond on a wide range of issues in the consultation paper. Due to the interdisciplinary nature of the research undertaken in CCRI, the focus of the response to the consultation was to provide evidence that is likely to be useful to Defra when developing the resulting policies. Chris Short, Reader in Environmental Governance, who helped coordinate the responses, said

“It is really important for the best evidence to be available to Defra when they are developing the new policy landscape in the next few years. The benefit of much of the evidence that the CCRI was able to provide is that it has been gathered with the input from a wide range of stakeholders, including farmers, land managers and conservation groups. We look forward to working with both Defra and partners in research projects to develop the best possible policies and projects in the UK.”

CCRI researcher, Dr Hannah Chiswell, added,

“It’s a great opportunity for CCRI researchers to share their research findings with policy makers and help the Government develop its action plans for the future.”

For the response to ‘fulfilling our responsibility to animals’ (Question 7), the CCRI was able to draw on the insight and expertise of Professor David Main of the Royal Agricultural University. For ‘protecting crop, tree, plant and bee health (Question 11), the response represented a joint one from the CCRI and Professor John Mumford of the Centre for Environmental Policy, Imperial College London.

The ‘Health and Harmony: the future for food, farming and the environment in a Green Brexit’ consultation paper outlines how the Government plans to change the way we use the land, so as better to promote health and harmony and secure a bright future for both farming and the environment.

In April this year, CCRI Director, Professor Janet Dwyer, was invited to give oral evidence in connection with the Health and Harmony paper. The can be viewed on Parliamentary TV.